The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1887-11-20
1t is Never Too Late to Mend.

It is now time for workmen who have been
hoping to better their condition by political
means to pause and take observations They
have had whole year to perfect their Or
ganization since the failure of their first
effort in this city. Their most prominent,
leaders, represented by their own press and
generously reported in opposing journals,
have disseminated their opinions widely;
and they have been supported by an enthu
siastic body Of followers. whose efforts were
most Jealous and unfagging. Yet the Sec
ond failure was worse than the first, and the
condition Of the Labor party is much less
hopeful to-day than it was at the close Of
last years campaign. In fact, it Is even
questionable If the leaders, except the con-
fessed Socialists can carry their organiza-
ton into the next canvass.
We are told, of course, that this sudden
collapse was due to division. But this is evil
IDENTIFY not true. A party rarely loses
strength mum srically by division in it's first
double-headed battle under rival banners. It
Is often strengthened, indeed If there be any
thing substantial as the basis Of its organiza-
ton. 1t would be better to say that the d.
vision was due to something wrong in prin-
ciple, and that it failed because there was
nothing practicable In the objects proposed.
In the first place, the leaders of this party
have mistaken their ground. Workmen are
not social philosophers; and they make no
pretence OF being wiser than other men Of
their day and generation. They are dlscon-
tented with their condition, it Ia true and
very properly. 1t is a question if every man
should not be moderately disconnected
with his condition; and workmen have
peculiarly strong reasons for discon-
tent. They must work hard, and this
Is not just ground for complaint But
they must remain painfully subject to casu-
atty, aud this is a very good ground for COM
plant. Their condition, also. Is dependent.
Beyond other people, they are subject to the
caprices Of fortune; and after life OF con-
siderable privation they are generally liable
to die in the full knowledge that their faml-
lies will be left pelniless. 1t will not do to
say, either, that they should be economical
and save their money. They have no money
to save. Without going hungry and bare
foot, and living in most repulsive, even de-
moralizing environment, it is generally i'm
possible for workman, subsisting on an
income of ten. fifteen, or even twenty dol
enough to pay his final DOCTORS bill and
funeral expenses But while all these things
are true, he Ii usually man Of too much
common sense to believe that remedy can
be found in revolution that would tend to
an aggravatton Of his difficulties rather than
to their removal Hence the brief and in
glorious career Of this Labor party.
1t would hardly be prudent to say what
workmen want. Their aspirations have been
SO much misrepresented during the past
year or SO that they are suspected of not
themselves knowing what they want. But
1t is easy to see what they most need. They
need insurance. Before an employee who
expects to remain au employee should be
satisfied with his condition he should make
himself certain not only that his family will
be left with some means OF subsistence
after his death, but that he himself shall be
protected during his lifetime against the
casualties Of sickness and loss of employ
ment. This is the first great object to
be pursued in any movement looking to
social amendment. Political advertisements
will not serve. The best political scheme that
could be devised would turn to worse than
ashes in the grasp Of all except the leaders.
Nelther VIII Increased compensation Tor
labor serve. The great mass OF employees,
the service rendered be manual or
mental, can never earn much moro than
their living expenses. Anything better than
this is made physical impossibility by the
limitations Of the market, the margin be- |
tween price and the cost Of production never
being sufficient to enrich the great body of |
producers. A simple scheme Of insurance |
must lie at the foundation Of any compre- |
nensve plan FOR the benefit OF employees.
But systems OF insurance OF which work.
men may avail themselves are already in
operation, it may be said. True. but they |
we're not planned TO attain the end which |
should be held in view. In the first place, a
nan must be able to show a sound constitu-
ion before he VIII be allowed to take out a
policy in any sound institution; and 1t 10 not !